I do not understand this desire to get rid of the auto bids. If you are ranked in the top 8 and are not a BIG 10 or SEC conference champion you are not going to be left out since the BIG 10 and SEC champions are probably ranked in the top 8. If you are one of the two highest ranked at large teams why wouldn't you want to play a team you can boat race and essentially get a bye week. I don't care about a good game if I am in position to be one of the ones that boat races a team. It only hurts when you are number 9 in the country and get left out.
Now I do understand why a commissioner wants less auto bids because it means more money. I just like the idea that every game in conference will still mean something since teams will want to avoid being number 9 and possibly left out. If it is just the top 12 then it becomes 6 from BIG and 6 from SEC once they go to 24 teams. It will start to feel like the NBA. Also, you may have to beat the same damn team again, see 2001. To me the 12 team was genius because the top 8 teams are in the playoffs and who cares who the other 4 teams are that get in since it was never meant to address the top 12.